Mustard container



March 28, 1939. L ASELLA 2,151,684

MUSTARD CONTAINER Filed Oct. 21, 1937 INVENTOR SECONDO L. CXSELLA ATTORNEYS @MFW Wu Patented Mar. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSTARD CONTAINER 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a dispensing receptacle for fluids of semi-liquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard. Dispensers comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and containing a piston adapted to be reciprocated therein whereby a predetermined charge or quantity of fluid may be dispensed through the outlet at each operation, have heretofore been known. Such devices have been effective in the handling of greases and liquids, but no dispensing container has heretofore been devised which has satisfactorily handled fluids of a semi-liquid consistency or pasty consistency, such as mustard.

The primary object of the present invention is a dispensing device of the character described which is suitable for use with fluids of semiliquid or pasty consistency.

Another object of the invention is to so associate a plunger with a piston as to advance the piston a predetermined distance each time the plunger is actuated whereby a predetermined charge of fluid may be expelled through the mouth of the device.

Yet another object of the invention is a piston adapted for use with fluids of the consistency here involved. 7

The invention also seeks a piston adapted for step by step movement along a plunger and which is so mounted on the plunger as to permit the plunger to be retracted after each actuation while the piston retains its advanced position.

A further object of the invention is to so mount the piston on the plunger as to permit the piston to be capable of slight retraction after an advance to create a suction and draw or permit entrance into the mouth of the container of a volume of air whereby drip from the nozzle is prevented.

Still another object of the invention is a telltale device which will indicate when the container is empty.

The invention further has for its object a dispensing receptacle of the character described which is practical from the standpoint of ease and cheapness of manufacture and durability and practicability in use.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the container and its details of construction;

Figure 2 is a view showing the piston looking from above in the plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a detailed view showing a plug carried within the piston and taken on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the plug in the lower end of the piston, looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows from the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

- While the dispensing receptacle of this invention is particularly applicable to fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, it will be obvious that it is equally applicable for other fluids of different consistencies. As illustreated in Figure 1,a reservoir container 5,of generally tubular shape; has an inner surface'l,which is preferably cylindrical, to define a chamber 8. The casing 5 terminates at the upper end in a shoulder 9 defining a generally tapering interior surface I l which in'turn terminates in a progressively restricted bore l3 within a spout portion l 5 and constitutes a mouth M or outlet for the contents of the receptacle. Such a reservoir container may be conveniently formed of any moldable or plastic material, although it is obvious that it can be formed of any material whatsoever by any molding, shaping, boring or machining operation or otherwise so long as its interior bore 1 receives a piston, hereinafter to be described.

As viewed, the lower open end of the reservoir container is formed on its outer surface with threads l6 conveniently molded therein to receive the interiorly threaded portion I'I shown as an annular flange of a closure member I1--2Il formed with a bottom wall l9 and a peripheral downwardly extending flange 20 on which the container or dispenser may rest or stand when not in use. 0n the axis of the dispensing container, the closure is formed in the wall [9 with an axial bore 2| adapted to slidingly receive a rod-like or cylindrical plunger 23 having at its upper or inner end a head 25 of any convenient form serving, if desired, as a limiting stop for the piston in its upward travel. This plunger 23 is disposed, for the major portion of its length, within the receptacle 5, but extends without the receptacle conveniently through the wall IQ of the closure and terminates in a handle or thumb piece 21. Inwardly of the receptacle, the plunger 23 carries a positioning collar 29 secured, as by the set screw 30, to the plunger to limit outward or downward movement thereof. Expansible or resilient means, such as the coil spring 3|, is shown as surrounding the plunger 23 outwardly of the wall I9. The spring 3| bears against the thumb piece 21 on the one hand and is positioned within a recess, in the illustrated embodiment, defined by an annular lip 33 formed in the closure concentric with the bore 2!. The spring 3| normally tends to retract the plunger when the thumb piece is relieved from manual pressure, its movement being limited by the collar 29.

Within the container is illustrated a piston comprised of a plurality of parts arbitrarily named herein, for convenience of identification but without limiting effect. Concentric with the plunger 23 is a generally cylindrical traveller 35 formed in its outer periphery and near the rear or lower end thereof, with a circumferential roove 31 to receive a washer 39. Washer 39 is of generallyannular shape, tapering toward its outer edge to afford a degree of resiliency whereby the edge 40 of the washer may flex. The outer diameter of this washer 39 is such as to substantially engage the bore 1 of the container and preferably to frictionally engage the same and the washer 39 is of such flexibility as to permit some degree of relative movement of the traveller 35 with respect to the outer peripheral edge 40 of the washer as it frictionally engages the bore 1. The upper end of the traveller is conveniently, although not necessarily, of gradually or progressively reduced diameter, as at 4|, so that it will conveniently fit within the constricted portion I I of the container.

The traveller 35 is formed with a bore of a diameter materially in excess of the diameter of the plunger 23. This bore is preferably interiorally threaded. At its upper end, an inwardly directed lip or flange 41 reduces the bore of the traveller somewhat and serves to position a washer 48 which is preferably flexible and may, if desired, be formed of yielding non-metallic material. In the preferred embodiment, the inner edge of the washer 48 frictionally engages the plunger 23. It may be undercut at its inner edge for greater flexibility and to insure that the washer frictionally engages the plunger. The washer 48 is held in position within the bore 45 by a plug 49 having an axial bore receiving the plunger 23 with a fit which permits the plunger to slide freely within the plug. The surface of the plug proximate the washer is recessed, as at 5!, to permit flexing of the washer in a manner which will be brought out more clearly in the description of the operation of this device. On the opposite face of the plug 5!, as shown in Figure 3, is a boss 53 adapted to engage a wobble-disc formed as an annulus with an oversized hole through which the plunger 23 passes and a. rim 54 of a thickness reater than the web 55 of the disc and which rim is adapted to be engaged by the boss 53 to tip the "annular wobble-disc as the plunger moves in one direction.

This wobble-disc is loosely carried within a recess defined by the plug 49 and a closure plug 51. Closure plug 51 has a bore 58 and is threaded into the lower end of the bore of the traveller 35. It is positioned by an abutment or shoulder 69 formed on an enlarged portion of the closure plug which shoulder is recessed, as at 6|, sothat it may receive and fit down over the positioning collar on the plunger and abut thereagainst.

The upper surface (as viewed in Figure 1) of the plug 57 is formed with a plurality of radial ribs 63 extending from the rim inwardly to a point in spaced relation to the central bore 58, and defining depressed surfaces 64 therebetween. Opening into the space or chamber 56 containing the wobble-disc and defined by these depressed portions on the one hand and the plug 49 on the other, is a passage 59 shown as radially extending from the bore 58, permitting the passage of air into the chamber 55 containing the wobble-disc and its escape therefrom so that the pressure within the traveller 35 is equalized with that of the interior of the receptacle, the raised portion serving to hold the wobble-disc off this lower surface and prevent the cutting off of the free flow of air.

When the piston has advanced, a telltale plunger, shown as a rod 61 split at one end to definie two spring-like fingers 68, is slidably mounted in a longitudinal bore 59 formed in the casing of the container. The fingers 68 frictionally position the telltale in the bore to the uppermost part of the chamber 8, a portion thereof striking against the end or head 79 of the telltale plunger pushing it upwardly so that the upper end is exposed above the surface of the container to indicate the exhaustion of the contents and the necessity for refilling.

In operation, when the device is to be filled with fluid, the closure i9 is removed taking with it, of course, the plunger 23 and the piston. The telltale 5'! is depressed to the position shown in Figure 1. Material is then poured into the chamber 8 filling the same to a level which will permit operation of the device. The cover or closure I'!29 is then screwed on to close the open end. At this time, the piston occupies the position shown in Figure 1, resting upon the collar 29 and with the flexible end of the washer 39 in frictional engagement with the bore 7 and the washer 48 in frictional engagement with the rod 23. When the material is to be dispensed, the container is tilted, conveniently, and the plunger pressed once thereby delivering a predetermined charge through the outlet M. It will be recognized that when the dispenser is tipped the wobble-disc will tip and bind on the plunger so that movement of the plunger toward the mouth will carry the piston with it to expell a charge. When pressure on the handle 2'! is relieved, the spring 3| causes the plunger to move backwardly to its original position, but the piston is held in its advanced position by reason of the frictional engagement of the washer 39 with the wall 1. The washer 48 at the upper end of the traveller clings to a certain degree to the surface of the plunger and the Washer 39 is flexed and both tend to pull the traveller downwardly slightly against the action of the washer 39 so as to permit an inrush of air through the outlet 14 to draw any liquid back from the mouth and prevent drip. The wobble plate then falls to the bottom of the recess and rests on the upper face of the lower plug 51 preparatory to the next operation which takes place as above described. When the container is emptied, the cover is removed and the piston manually restored to original position.

The dispensing receptacle of this invention has been found particularly applicable in the delivery of fairly closely measured charges of fluids of a semi-liquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard and the like. All of the parts may be made, if desired, of molded or plastic and therefore nonmetallic material with the exception, say, of the 7 in the art in the composition, configuration and. h disposition of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the selection and combination of various of the component elements to meet particular conditions and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawing, except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and an open end, a closure removably secured to the last named open end, a plunger the major portion of which is disposed Within the container, a handle or thumb piece carried with the other end of said plunger outwardly of the container, automatic means to retract the plunger, means to limit outward movement of the plunger, a piston within the container slidable on the plunger and interacting means between the plunger and the piston to move the piston relative to the plunger toward the head.

2. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet, a plunger, a piston within the container comprising an annular traveller formed with a peripheral groove, an internally threaded axial bore and an inwardly directed lip at the outer end of the bore, a flexible washer in the groove comprised of yielding nonmetallic resilient material and of an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container for frictional contact therewith, a flexible washer of yielding non-metallic resilient material formed with a bore frictional- 1y receiving the plunger and disposed within the threaded bore of the traveller adjacent the lip, a plug in threaded engagement with the bore adjacent the last named washer formed with a bore for slidingly receiving the plunger, the surface of the plug proximate the Washer being formed with an annular recess centrally thereof to permit flexing of the edge of the aperture in the last named Washer, said plug being formed on its opposite face remote from the last named washer with a boss remote from the bore, an annular disc carried with the plunger proximate the plug and having a rim of a thickness greater than the thickness of the web surrounding the aperture, said aperture loosely receiving the plunger whereby the disc may be angularly displaced with respect to the plunger, said disc being of a diameter such that the rim may be engaged by the boss, a plug closing the bore of the traveller and having a portion of increased diameter as a positioning shoulder for the plug and an annular rim to receive the collar on the plunger, said plug being formed with a vent extending from one side to the other.

3. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and open at the other end, a closure for the last named open end, a cylindrical plunger, means to retract the plunger, a piston on the plunger comprising an annular member formed with an internally threaded axial bore and an inwardly directed lip at the outer end of the bore, a flexible washer of an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container for frictional contact therewith, a flexible washer formed with a bore frictonally receiving the plunger disposed within the threaded bore adjacent the lip, a plug in threaded engagement with the bore adjacent the last named washer formed with a bore for slidingly receiving the plunger, the surface of the plug proximate the washer being formed with an annular recess centrally thereof to permit flexing of the edge of the aperture in the last named Washer, said plug being formed on its opposite face remote from the last named washer with a boss remote from the bore, an annular disc carried with the plunger proximate the plug and having a rim of a thickness greater than the thickness of the web surrounding the aperture, said aperture loosely receiving the plunger whereby the disc may be angularly displaced with respect to the plunger, said disc being of a diameter such that the rim may be engaged by the boss, a plug closing the bore of the traveller having a portion of increased diameter as a positioning shoulder for the plug and an annular rim to receive the collar on the plunger.

4. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and open at the other end, a closure for the open end, a plunger, a piston within the container and on the plunger and comprising an annular member formed with an axial bore and an inwardly directed lip at the outer end of the bore, a flexible washer in the groove of yielding nonmetallic resilient material of an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container for frictional contact therewith, a flexible Washer formed with a bore frictionally receiving the plunger and of yielding non-metallic resilient material disposed within the bore adjacent the lip, means in the bore adjacent the last named washer supporting the outer periphery of the washer and thereby permitting flexing of the edge of the aperture in the last named washer, said plug being formed on its opposite face remote from the last named washer with a boss, an annular disc carried with the plunger proximate the plug and having a rim of a thickness greater than the thickness of the web surrounding the aperture to be engaged by the boss, said aperture loosely receiving the plunger whereby the disc may be angularly displaced with respect to the plunger, a plug closing the bore of the traveller. V

5. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and open at the other end, a closure for the open end, a plunger, a piston within the container and on the plunger and comprising an annular member formed with a flexible Washer of an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container for frictional contact there with, a flexible washer formed with a bore frictionally receiving the plunger disposed within the bore of the annular member adjacent the upper end, means to position the last named washer permitting flexing I of the edge of the aperture in the last named washer, an annular disc carried with the plunger proximate the plug formed withan aperture loosely receiving the plunger, means whereby the disc may be angu- 4 /larly displaced with respect to the plungenmeans closing the bore of the annular member formed with fluid passages beneath the disc.

6. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard,

comprising a generally tubular reservoir con-- tainer formed at one end with an outlet and a filling opening, a closure therefor, a plunger, a piston within the container on the plunger comprising an annular member and an axial bore, a flexible washer of an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container for frictional contact therewith, a flexible washer formed with a bore frictionally receiving the plunger and disposed within the bore of the annular member, means to position the last named washer to permit flexing of the edge of the aperture in the last named washer, an annular disc carried with the plunger proximate the plug and formed with an aperture loosely receiving the plunger whereby the annular disc may be angularly displaced with respect to the plunger, a plug closing the bore of the annular member having means permitting flow of fluid beneath the annular disc and to the outside of the piston.

'7. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and open at the other end, a closure for the last named open end, a plunger, means to retract the plunger, means to limit outward movement of the plunger, piston means within the container controlling the plunger, comprising annular means formed with an axial bore, resilient means carried with the piston frictionally contacting the container, flexible means frictionally receiving the plunger and carried with the piston, a recess centrally thereof to permit flexing of the edge of the aperturein the last named washer, said plug being formed on its opposite face remote from'the last named washer with a boss remote from the bore, a disc carried with the plunger within the bore and formed with. an aperture loosely receiving the plunger, means carried with the piston to angularly displace the disc with respect to the plunger, and a plug closing the bore of the annular means.

8. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet and open at the other end, a closure for the last named open end, a plunger, means to retract the plunger, means to limit outward movement of the plunger, piston means within the container controlling the plunger, comprising annular means formed with an axial bore, resilient means carried with the piston frictionally contacting the container, flexible means frictionally receiving the plunger and carried with the piston, a recess centrally thereof to permit flexing of the edge of the aperture in the last named washer, said plug being formed on its opposite face remote from the last named Washer with a boss remote from the bore, a disc carried with the plunger within the bore and formed with an aperture loosely receiving the plunger, means carried with the piston to angularly displace the disc with respect to the plunger and a plug closing the bore of the annular means, said annular means having vent means.

9. A dispensing receptacle for fluids of a semiliquid or pasty consistency, such as mustard, comprising a generally tubular reservoir container formed at one end with an outlet, a plunger, a piston carried with the plunger and comprising flexible yielding means of an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container for frictional contact therewith,

apertured yielding means carried with the piston and frictionally receiving the plunger, means to position the last named means permitting flexing of the-edge of the aperture in the last named means and means to releasably engage the plunger to advance the piston by a step-by-step movement with respect thereto.

SECONDO L. CASELLA. 

